Russia strikes Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant sarcophagus
Photo: aftermath of the Russian drone attack on Chornobyl NPP (t.me/ermaka2022)
Russia attacked the shelter of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant with an attack drone with an explosive warhead at night, according to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"Last night, a Russian attack drone with a high-explosive warhead struck the shelter protecting the world from radiation at the destroyed 4th power unit of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant," the president wrote.
According to Zelenskyy, the shelter was once built by those who wanted people to be safe - Ukraine, the United States, and European allies. At the same time, Russia remains the only country in the world that is capable of attacking such facilities, occupying the territory of nuclear power plants, and not considering the consequences.
The President added that the fire caused by the drone attack had already been extinguished. At present, the radiation background has not increased, but the situation continues to be under control. According to the first estimates, the damage to the shelter is significant.
"Every night, Russia carries out such attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and cities. Russia continues to expand its army and shows no change in its deranged, anti-human state rhetoric. This means that Putin is definitely not preparing for negotiations — he is preparing to continue deceiving the world. That is why there must be unified pressure from all who value life – pressure on the aggressor. Russia must be held accountable for its actions," Zelensky added.
Russian occupation of Chornobyl nuclear power plant
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russians seized the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Russia held the plant's personnel hostage, which posed risks to nuclear safety.
On March 31, 2022, the Russian occupiers left the territory of the plant, but before that, they stole equipment and documents and mined the territory. During the occupation, an increase in radiation levels was recorded due to the movement of heavy equipment that raised contaminated dust.
Read more about the Chornobyl tragedy, how the Soviet authorities tried to hide information about it, and what happened at the plant after the invasion of Russian troops in RBC-Ukraine's article.
